We still have some time before this becomes the biggest story surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles, but if the National Football League hasn’t taught us anything else, it’s this. Nothing lasts forever, and time certainly flies.

Think about Jalen Carter. He’s already entering the third year of his rookie deal. Philadelphia has a fifth-year option baked into his contract that they can exercise (and they will), but it won’t be long before it’s time to back up the Brinks truck.

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During his four seasons in Philadelphia, Milton Williams typically hovered around being the third or fourth defensive tackle on the depth chart. He earned a small fortune by leaving during the offseason.

That being said, ask yourselves a question. If Williams is set to earn $104 million over four seasons, what might Carter’s price tag be when his number comes up?

The Eagles can’t afford to waste a fleeting edge

Please accept the sincerest apologies if these types of conversations give you unnecessary anxiety. Be encouraged. The Eagles are the best at handling these types of organizational decisions. You can best believe that Howie Roseman will figure all of this out.

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That does bring up another theory. With so many young players in the core on rookie deals and contracts that are inexpensive by NFL standards, Philadelphia is well-positioned to achieve great things in the immediate future. They are home to the NFL’s least expensive defense.

Philadelphia walks into the 2025-26 season with Jordan Davis playing on a fifth-year option. Reed Blankenship and Nakobe Dean are in the final year of their rookie deals, albeit in contract seasons. Decisions will need to be made about their futures relatively soon.

Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and Kelee Ringo are still playing on rookie deals. Andrew Mukuba, Ty Robinson, and Jihaad Campbell were just drafted this past April as cornerstones for the future.

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Don’t forget about Nolan Smith. He was drafted in the same first round that Philadelphia selected Jalen Carter in (2023). He also has a fifth-year option baked into his contract, but he’ll also need to be paid soon.

Teams always relish the opportunity to surround young and still-inexpensive quarterbacks with elite talent. There’s an akin feeling to having so many young and inexpensive defenders on the roster. After seeing what the Eagles’ defense did in Super Bowl 59, there’s a buzz growing as fans and the media ask how good Vic Fangio’s defense can be.

Barring anything tragic, Philadelphia has a chance to compete for several more seasons. They better make the most of their opportunity. It may be a long time before they’ll have a unit that is this young, this good, and this inexpensive again.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Time is ticking on the one of the Eagles’ competitive advantages